Dryocopus hodgei
The Andaman Woodpecker (Dryocopus hodgei) is a striking, large woodpecker endemic to the Andaman Islands, instantly recognizable by its glossy black plumage and prominent crimson crest. Measuring approximately 38-40 cm (15-16 inches) in length, it boasts a powerful chisel-tipped bill and stiff tail feathers essential for bracing against tree trunks. Males feature a full crimson crest extending from the forehead to the nape, along with a distinct red malar stripe or "mustache," while females t...
This species primarily inhabits dense, evergreen and semi-evergreen tropical forests, including secondary growth and sometimes plantations, typically at low to mid-elevations.
Its diet mainly consists of large wood-boring beetle larvae, ants, and other insects found deep within timber or under bark, primarily extracted through extensive chiseling and probing.
The Andaman Woodpecker is a diurnal species, active from dawn to dusk, often roosting in tree cavities at night. It employs a powerful foraging strategy, hammering into large tree trunks, both live and dead, to extract wood-boring beetle larvae, ants, and other insects. Its territorial behavior i...
The Andaman Woodpecker is strictly endemic to the Andaman Islands, an archipelago in the Bay of Bengal, politically part of India. Its distribution is concentrated primarily on the Great Andaman group, encompassing North, Middle, South Andaman Islands, as well as adjacent smaller islands such as ...
Near Threatened
- The Andaman Woodpecker is the only large woodpecker endemic to the Andaman Islands, making it a unique island specialist. - Its powerful bill and robust build allow it to excavate deep into hardwoods, tackling prey inaccessible to smaller woodpecker species. - The species' loud, far-carrying ca...